German chancellor Angela Merkel calls withdrawal from Kabul ‘bitter’ as Boris Johnson pushes to extend evacuation deadline

3.51pm BST

The efforts to improve access to Kabul airport and to fly people out seem to be having an effect. The Pentagon has announced the biggest day so far for evacuations.

Major General Hank Taylor said 21,600 people flew out of Kabul airport in the past 24 hours. Of that total, 12,700 were flown out on 37 US military transport planes, while 57 coalition and partner aircraft took the other 8,900.

3.40pm BST

The White House confirmed the virtual G7 meeting began at 9:45 am ET, about 15 minutes after its scheduled start time.

In the meeting, Joe Biden will likely be pressed on extending the August 31 deadline to complete the Kabul evacuation mission, as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for.

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Source: The Guardian